The Cambridges copykeened the Sussexes’ foundation tribute page for Philip

Royals walk to Sandringham Church on Christmas Day - l to r Prince William, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Philip, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

I know it shouldn’t bother me, but these little acts of passive-aggression and copycatting really bug the hell out of me. So, as we know, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex don’t have any current or public social media accounts. No Facebook, no Twitter and they aren’t updating their old SussexRoyal Instagram account, nor do they have a new Archewell Instagram. The only thing they have to update is the actual Archewell site, which launched last year. They regularly update it with links to charities and they highlight issues and all of that. Shortly after Prince Philip’s passing was announced on Friday, the Archewell site was updated so that this is the home page and only page which can be accessed:

archewell philip

A simple tribute to Harry’s grandfather. There were some people (Nigel Farage) claiming that the message was cold or too brief, but again, Harry and Meghan knew well enough that they would be criticized no matter what they wrote, so there was no flowery language or over-emphasis on his titles or anything like that. They didn’t want to be accused of exploiting Philip’s death for their un-royal site.

So, once they saw what Harry and Meghan had done, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge changed *their* foundation’s site too. The Cambridges’ staffers had already noted Philip’s passing on their social media accounts, but they just had to one-up Harry and Meghan on the Royal Foundation’s home page too. They used a photo of Philip as well:

royal foundation philip

For three days, this was the only real change the Cambridges made – they only reposted the Royal Family’s Instagram announcement and changed the Royal Foundation’s main page, and they only did the latter because they were copying the Sussexes. It’s… a very strange vibe. While William and Harry released separate statements today, it feels like those statements were only the product of intense negotiations behind-the-scenes about who goes first, etc. I also feel like Will and Kate are creepy in the way they’re stalking and copying everything Harry and Meghan do.

Here’s what Nigel Farage said about the Sussexes’ brevity. Does he have the same energy for the Keens or nah?

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN, Avalon Red.

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48 Responses to “The Cambridges copykeened the Sussexes’ foundation tribute page for Philip”

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  1. Becks1 says:

    I think they copy the Sussexes because there is zero originality on their team, from the Cambridges on down. They even had to hire the Sussexes social media person! It’s kind of sad but also bizarre. They dont have to be original, but they cant hire someone who is more on top of things?

    (and this is like so many other things – with normal people I wouldn’t say changing the website like this means they’re copying, but because they didn’t do it until AFTER the Archewell site changed…..)

    And yes the timing of the statements was definitely planned, William wanted to go first, too bad Harry’s is so much better, ha.

    • Cecilia says:

      They are most definitely copying the sussexes and even penny junoir and camilla tominey have pointed that out. But its one thing to do that in your charity work and a completely other to do that when a beloved family member just passes away. This is stalker levels of creepy.

    • Elizabeth Regina says:

      Is it surprising considering how lazy the donothings are? I’m loving how William’s statement is getting the dragging it deserves on the BBC news website. The word JOB was the trigger for many.

    • Gayle says:

      Actually, Archewell’s tribute and page was better – classier and more pleasing to the eye.

      The Shamebridges put a picture of the man but it is a slightly hot mess….like they are!

    • Love says:

      Copying is the name of the game apparently. I just saw their new WC logo. What a mess… no offence to them, but it doesn’t work like the HM does

  2. Persephone says:

    He really needs to qualify that statement as he does not speak for ALL the public.
    I’m talking about that a$$ nigel.

  3. Rapunzel says:

    Lol at Farage: “this third person and one sentence statement”

    Hey dummy:

    1. There’s literally no third person except his name and title. The actual statement is 2nd person “you.”

    2. It’s TWO sentences joined by an ellipsis.

  4. Scal says:

    That whole ‘!but the website!’ Drama was such BS. All the other family members updated social media profile pics – and no other statements. But somehow Meghan and Harry were slammed for doing the same. Again.

    Clearly there was a protocol for the statements. No one before the queen and then Charles.

  5. Case says:

    OMG, they’re so ridiculous and transparent. This is hilarious but also wow, the Cambridges are just so embarrassing.

    There’s nothing wrong with H&M’s message. They got the message up right away, which was very nice. It doesn’t need to be detailed. The only thing that bothers me is that there should either be a period, dash, or a semicolon between the two statements at the bottom “Thank you for your service…you will be greatly missed.” Ellipses MIGHT be okay here as a pause, but there are much cleaner ways to write this.

    • Mac says:

      They have updated their home page with a photo and Harry’s statement.

    • booboocita says:

      Oh, good — another grammarian! I agree: that ellipsis should have been an em dash, a semi-colon, or two separate sentences. I think I would have preferred two separate sentences, as that would add some impact to each sentiment.

      EDITED TO ADD: The new statement, accompanied by a photo of Harry and Philip, is wonderful. Love the references to duty and service paired with a personal touch (calling him Grandpa, the beer in hand). The Cambs haven’t updated the Royal Foundation page yet, but you know that’s coming in 3, 2, 1 …

    • Merricat says:

      The ellipses indicates that something has been left out of the text, which functions well in this particular statement, since there is so much to say about a family member who has died.

  6. Reece says:

    I’ve been doing my best to not go off on these ppl like Garage (intentional typo) but they are trying me.

  7. Kalana says:

    The next step is to figure out what outfit of Diana’s or the Queen’s, Kate is going to copy as part of her cosplay.

    My money is on a Diana outfit so she can pose between the brothers and be the Trio again in an even creepier way than usual. That or something extremely military influenced. Final guess, the Charlotte christening coat in a dark color.

    • Becks1 says:

      You know she’s going to spend money on a new black coatdress even though she has so many already.

      • Kalana says:

        And it will be a near replica of what she already owns. But she’ll wear earrings from Claire’s or something to show how frugal she is.

      • Dee says:

        I’d put odds on an expensive new hat and purse. Also a very buttony black coatdress with some sort of military epaulets, so she can match her husband’s military cosplay. Some jewelry of Diana’s to get the Kate stans sighing.

      • Nic919 says:

        Her jewellery will be something the Queen gave her which will be sold as “supporting the Queen”.

        Where is the clip of the Queen blowing off the Cambs to talk to Sophie following the covid Cho Cho tour? I suspect we are going to need it on Saturday following all the lies we shall hear about the Cambridges “supporting” the Queen.

  8. Victoria says:

    What bothers me the most is that they will get praised for doing the same thing that Harry and Meghan did getting criticized for and that is not right.

  9. Merricat says:

    Nigel Farage shares a relevancy rating with cottage cheese.

  10. Snuffles says:

    I will bet you ANYTHING that William demanded he see Harry’s statement before posting and Harry refused. I don’t think Harry had any problem with the rest of the family going first.

  11. Agirlandherdog says:

    You know, I have thoughts. A lot of thoughts. All stemming from the assertion that he was a great man. In deference to his family, to whom he was a beloved man, I’ll simply say he wasn’t a great man. He was an important man, who played an important role in the BRF, but serving in an important role doesn’t automatically make you a great person.

  12. Sally says:

    as you would want……carole…….we see you

  13. Cecilia says:

    Im just now noticing willy & kate holding hands in that upper picture

  14. Over it says:

    Farage is just sad. The keens share the same brain cell and I.Q so nope , original thinking is not something they do.

  15. Liz version 700 says:

    Copykeened lol that is so funny lol

  16. L84Tea says:

    I’ll be honest, I didn’t even realize the Cambridges had a website.

  17. bub244 says:

    Disclaimer: I like the Sussexes and think that Will and Kate often copy them.

    However, I don’t actually think this is an example of that. Government websites, and most large businesses/institutions, have put something similar on their websites, usually equally understated. We’re in a period of national mourning so this is literally everywhere – even Waitrose (my local supermarket) has a sign outside with just his name and date of birth/death!! It’s actually a bit weird haha

    • Pétulia says:

      That’s what I think too. The Cambridges put themselves into this position where everything they do that looks like what H&M did will be seen as a copy.

    • schmootc says:

      That’s what I thought too. It’s short and to the point, seems like a common way to memorialize someone and doesn’t really read as copying to me.

    • Ronja says:

      Exactly, this isn’t a case of copying. I work in the charity sector in the UK and this what many of our websites have done, as have British businesses and others. I understand why think that though, as they often do try to copy.

  18. Amelia says:

    I’m British and I can tell you all with 110% certainty that Nigel Farage does not speak for all of us. He just speaks for himself.

    As for the cambridges copying the Sussexes, Oscar Wilde put it best when he said that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness”. Most of the time we only imitate those we hope to be like one day

  19. MsIam says:

    That tweet from Nigel is so stupid. If Harry and Meghan had said more he probably would have attacked them for making too much fuss which Phillip wouldn’t have wanted. Or Harry would have been accused of trying to “score points”.

  20. Lowrider says:

    Farage, Trump, Owens, Piss, Wooten, racists, maggots, brexiters…what a support team for the Cambridge’s.

  21. A says:

    I mean, if the RF wants their loudest and most visible supporter to be an obviously racist, xenophobic, fascist man, then that is their decision to make. It says a great deal about what their values are, that’s for sure, the same way their continued, uncommented on association with Piers Morgan says a lot about it as well.

    If the RF was to be associated with the dregs of humanity like Piers Morgan and Nigel Farage, welp, okay ya’ll. You do you, I guess. Just don’t complain when people walk away from this not believing you when you insist that you’re not racist.

  22. Cottage Cat says:

    I sincerely hope that Middleton doesn’t go for the Press “money shot” between William and Harry – “Back where he belongs”. This professional PR girl is no ingenue, and she/her mother knows what sells in the Press. This Ocean Village Marina “deck hand” has tried the lingering “so in love” and Marilyn skirt-blowing shots. By the same token, everyone is worshipping Sophie but she, like Middleton, is from a PR background, disgraceful betrayal of the Royals to a fake “Sheikh” who offered her money for bitchy comments about the family she was desperate to “marry into”. How Sophie Rees-Mogg’s “indiscretions” were forgiven so quickly is a mystery, yet Ferguson was hung, drawn and quartered.

  23. florencia says:

    I’m fully in support of the Sussexes getting the hell out, but it seems like a real stretch to claim the Cambridges were copying just because they also updated their website with a tribute, seems pretty 101 that they would have done that regardless.